News Room

CNA, partners gear up for National Technology Week

11/5/2018 10:05:45 AM

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Al Hawkins, joined by Electrical Engineering students, signs the official proclamation, kicking off National Technology Week at CNA.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Al Hawkins addressed a full house at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Ridge Road campus Monday morning to launch National Technology Week. Also pictured are John Oates, President Skills Competences Canada, and Gary Tulk, Vice President Industry and Community Engagement.

ST. JOHN’S, NL – College of the North Atlantic (CNA) campuses in the Avalon region will host a variety of events, tours and activities this week to promote skilled trades careers to youth, parents and educators as part of National Technology Week.

The official launch and proclamation signing took place at CNA’s Ridge Road campus Monday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m., and was attended by the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Al Hawkins; John Oates, President of Skills Canada; and, Gary Tulk, Vice President of Industry and Community Engagement at CNA.

“I encourage students throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in the many National Technology Week activities taking place throughout the province,” said Min. Hawkins. “National Technology Week celebrates rewarding career opportunities right here at home in many of the sectors our government is prioritizing through The Way Forward, including technology, mining, oil and gas, forestry, aquaculture, and agriculture.”

National Technology Week has two other significant and related events occurring simultaneously during the week, which provides an added focus on the trades and technology sectors.

On Monday, Nov. 5, CNA’s Seal Cove campus will participate in the week’s events by hosting a Skills Work for Women Conference, which will be implemented by Skills Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The event will see 50 intermediate students participate in activities, including Try-A-Trade demonstrations and a mentoring session with female role models employed in the skilled sector.

Also being celebrated is National Skilled Trades and Technology Week, an event that will officially be launched by Skills Competences Canada at the Halifax Convention Centre on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The goal of this week-long event is to promote and host awareness-raising events around the many career opportunities in skilled trades and technology throughout the country. Halifax will be the site of the 2019 Skills Canada National Competition, May 28-29.
“National Skilled Trades and Technology Week in Canada is a week dedicated to celebrating the work of skilled tradespeople and technologists in our community and country,” said Skills Canada President Oates. “Careers in the skilled trade and technology sector are of vital importance within our economy and global marketplace. During this week, and throughout the program year, Skills Canada organizations across the country host a variety of activities and events to promote skilled careers as viable, first-choice career options to young Canadians.”

Community Partnerships
Among the highlights of National Technology Week at CNA are two days of activities showcasing the exciting opportunities available in the fields of applied science and engineering technology.

“We are proud to be a part of National Technology Week and shaping skilled trades careers,” said CNA President & CEO Bruce Hollett. “Throughout this exciting week, students across the country will participate in a variety of events and programs that will allow them to explore the ample career opportunities available in the skilled trade and technology sector. Our collective goal is to create an environment, through post-secondary education, that encourages everyone, especially young women, to become involved in the technology sector. The future of our province depends on these up and coming graduates to keep the momentum going.”

Over the course of two jam-packed days (Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Nov. 8), CNA’s Ridge Road and Prince Philip Drive campuses will host community stakeholders: Brilliant Labs, Skills-NL, Women in Resource Development Corporation (WRDC), Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (NATI), Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Newfoundland and Labrador (AETTNL), Canadian Armed Forces, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Architects, and the Association of Newfoundland and Land Surveyors (ANLS).

Various stakeholder groups will be conducting trades and technology workshops, Try-A-Trade demonstrations and mentoring sessions with female role models employed in the skilled sector to more than 180 students from Grades 7-12, along with post-secondary students.

Held annually during the first week of November, National Technology Week offers a host of activities along with interactive and fun resources to help students, teachers and parents explore technical careers, particularly the 14 different fields in which over 512,000 technicians and technologists contribute to Canada's workforce.